Should we start a new photographic movement?

[Alex Benjamin]

I am too busy taking photographs to be concerned about an photographic movement.

And isn't there a contradiction in wanting to start a photographic movement when we're all trying to avoid camera shake?

For a movement to happen, I think you need something that people coalesce around. Either a central principle or a developing trend.

Or an immensely strong and dominant artistic personality—a Pablo Picasso, an André Breton, an Andy Warhol.

 

[Sirius Glass]

For a movement to happen, I think you need something that people coalesce around. Either a central principle or a developing trend.

We cannot even coalesce on the subject about whether photography is art or not and about what is art.

 

[BrianShaw]

Many Some here may be more concerned about other movements...

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Artists don't announce movements.

They go off on a personal voyage pursuing their own particular vision...then...if it has enough meat on the bones...others will recognize it as ground breaking and give it a name.

You can't point to it and get there, you have to do the work and have its value recognized after the fact.

No safety nets involved.

 

[George Mann]

For a movement to happen, I think you need something that people coalesce around. Either a central principle or a developing trend.

Yes. Can we call this abstract relativitism?

 

[George Mann]

We cannot even coalesce on the subject about whether photography is art or not and about what is art.

Do we need to?

 

[pentaxuser]

For a movement to happen, I think you need something that people coalesce around. Either a central principle or a developing trend.

Shouldn't that be a correct developing trend?

pentaxuser

 

[George Mann]

I think you have it backwards, the movements that start with an intention, a manifesto or something like that follow a purpose. Your feel we need a movement but are looking for a purpose? Why the need for a movement then?

I feel a new movement is necessary to propel film photography into a strong future existance in an increasingly difficult and uncertain world.

It is vital to use it as a way to help to preserve this unfolding history, and to give us a unified goal to help us thru it.

 

[Don_ih]

a new movement is necessary to propel film photography into a strong future existance in an increasingly difficult and uncertain world.

There is such a movement. It's called "scanning and posting the images digitally". There would be no future for film if there had been no scanning and sharing.

 

[George Mann]

There is such a movement. It's called "scanning and posting the images digitally". There would be no future for film if there had been no scanning and sharing.

I see this as the death of traditional photography as the art of analog printing is lost.

Furthermore, none of these scans are likely to survive the coming turmoil.

 

[George Mann]

Two things I see the need for is fully mechanical cameras, and fire safe boxes to store the film.

 

[Vaughn]

Fully manual cameras...check. Film...in the fridge (semi-fire proof?). Negatives...if the house goes so do the negs, cameras, film, prints. Prints are in a different room, if that counts for anything (hint...it doesn't).

I see this as the death of traditional photography as the art of analog printing is lost.

Don't ignore hybrid printing just because we are not allowed to talk about on this side of the fence. Digitally printed (inkjet) negatives has revived the photographic processes from the late 1800s, along with some silver gelatin printing. More alt photo printing is being done today due to the available to digital scanners and printers than during the few decades before they were available. The printed files can be from scanned film, digital capture, etc. -- I still prefer working directly from in-camera negatives for my work, but that is my bent. But the printing can be heavy-duty analog!

Alternative Photography is the Real Photography. Traditional Photography (silver gelatin, you-push-the-button stuff) was just the gateway drug for the mainlining of Digital.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Alternative Photography is the Real Photography. Traditional Photography (silver gelatin, you-push-the-button stuff) was just the gateway drug for the mainlining of Digital.

Good one

 

[jtk]

For a movement to happen, I think you need something that people coalesce around. Either a central principle or a developing trend.

That won't happen in photography. Look elsewhere. Ask Bob Dylan, or somebody who's birthday was today.

 

[George Mann]

Don't ignore hybrid printing just because we are not allowed to talk about on this side of the fence.

This process requires power, ink, and the printer has to actually work 100% (most develop issues in a short amount of time).

Then there is the issue of archiveability, or the lack thereof.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Then there is the issue of archiveability, or the lack thereof.

The ultimate end product, a platinum/palladium print, or a Pt/Pd or gold toned Kallitype ( salt print, etc) should be about the longest lived of all photographic processes.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

I feel a new movement is necessary to propel film photography into a strong future existance in an increasingly difficult and uncertain world.

It is vital to use it as a way to help to preserve this unfolding history, and to give us a unified goal to help us thru it.

OK, so you're not talking about an artistic movement—not talking about the images being made but how the images are being made. Is that it? And if so, does this mean we've replaced the old "film is dead" threads with new "film will die if we don't do something about it" threads?

 

[Don_ih]

Furthermore, none of these scans are likely to survive the coming turmoil.

If doomsday's coming, I won't be worrying much about scans.

Scanning has positively saved film manufacturers. Do you think those tens of thousands of people who buy rolls of Portra or Ektar or Cinestill would buy a single roll if there was no scanning? Absolutely not. Without scanning and the ability to post those images on Instagram, Facebook, or wherever, there would be no film manufactured. If they couldn't scan the motion picture film to do final processing (colour adjustment and adding special - i.e., digital - effects), no motion pictures would be shot on film, either.

Scanning is the digital saviour of film. It's naive to think anything different.

 

[Don_ih]

And if so, does this mean we've replaced the old "film is dead" threads with new "film will die if we don't do something about it" threads?

Seemingly.

 

[BrianShaw]

OK, so you're not talking about an artistic movement—not talking about the images being made but how the images are being made. Is that it? And if so, does this mean we've replaced the old "film is dead" threads with new "film will die if we don't do something about it" threads?

A very correct conclusion. Sad… and boring.

 

[George Mann]

OK, so you're not talking about an artistic movement—not talking about the images being made but how the images are being made. Is that it? And if so, does this mean we've replaced the old "film is dead" threads with new "film will die if we don't do something about it" threads?

It plays a big part in it, yes.

 

[George Mann]

Scanning is the digital saviour of film. It's naive to think anything different.

I am not going to argue your point. But I also strongly believe that it has led to the death of the traditional analog printing process commercially.

 

[George Mann]

A very correct conclusion. Sad… and boring.

It's too bad that you don't see the bigger picture here. Are you really this much against a movement which could bolster the strong use of film into the foreseeable future?

 

[George Mann]

So, I see this movement as one that has us always carrying a film camera of some sort in order to capture unusual/tragic/spontaneous events of notability that focuses on capturing the essence of the scene, subject or event.

I believe it best to stick to black and white film do to its ease of availability and developing.

 

[guangong]

I am too busy taking photographs to be concerned about an photographic movement.

Ditto!